Hey Guys and Gals, I have now touched down back in rainy England, talk about being brought back down to earth with a bang, its wet and cold here right now.

I need to start of by saying Thank You to everyone who helped me and made me feel welcome while I was over in Houston; I was well and truly overwhelmed by everything that you all did for me.

There are a few big thank you calls that I need to make right here in no particular order.

Ted, he was the reason that I made the final decision to come out to Houston for the game, he did everything for me, arranged the ticket, arranged to meet with all the guys, arranged for me to meet up with Greg for the Cougars game and generally just looked after me while I was in Houston, It means a lot, thank you.

Ryan, took me out and got me drunk, taught me the art of Corn Hole (I think that is right), Painted my face at the game, and was all in all awesome. I don’t know what the drinks were that he was buying me, however they definitely got me ‘smashed’ I know he liked that term and I had an excellent night. Also thank you to his fantastic fiancé and our favorite cheerleader Lindsey, she was great, made me feel very welcome. And my buddies back home are now very jealous that I met an NFL Cheerleader in person.

Jeff, also took me out drinking with Ryan, got me quite drink and we had a great time talking about all sorts of different things from the Rodeo, to why I don’t get the whole NASCAR thing and the fact the Def Leopard are from the same city as I am. I also owe him my weight in gold as he managed to hook me up with tickets to the Sideline for pre game warm-ups, he and his people managed to get Sideline on the Sideline. That was an amazing experience and one that I won’t forget for as long as I live.

Dean, also took me out drinking, the ladies man that he is always found someone to talk too, Lindsey pointed out to me that wherever you guys go he always seems to find somebody he knows. Also a big Def leopard fan if I remember rightly and was also pretty amazed that I was from their city.

Preston, showed me a great day on Friday and saved me a hell of a lot in cab fairs, taking me to Academy to spend all my money on some new cleats and gear, before taking me to the UH campus to pick up my game tickets for the game the next day. Then taking me out for dinner, to see his Texans room (the most amazing collection of Texans memorabilia anywhere) and watch Matt Schaub who was on Jim Rome that day. And finally onto an incredibly exciting High School Football game in the Conroe Tigers and Tomball Cougars, the game coming down to the last few seconds before Conroe sealed the victory.

Greg, picked me up with his family from my Hotel and took me to tailgate at the Cougars game, the whole day was incredible, I had a fantastic time tailgating and then the game was utterly amazing, so much so Greg could hardly talk the next day for the Texans game due to him shouting so much for the Cougars. Thanks for making me feel welcome, and bringing me into your little crew of tailgaters and your family. It was fantastic.

Joe Texan, Came out to see me at Papasitos, where we had a great meal with everyone, gave me a ton of gifts that all have their own place now at home. Then picked me up at the crack of dawn for the Texans game, it was fantastic riding into the car park in Joes big truck with all the gear on the back. He then introduced me to a load of people all around the stadium car park and made me feel very welcome. Also allowing me to take the head off of Manning the piñata, which can be seen in the Texans Bullpen photo gallery. You are a legend Joe, thanks for everything.

Sandy/G’ma/SheTexan, I was pretty overwhelmed to see her make it out to Papasitoes for the meal, as I was previously told she had to work, so when I found out that she had re arranged her shift just to come out and see me it took me back a bit. Thank you so much for that, It meant a lot. And also it was great to finally meet you, having talked to you a fair amount of the past 6 years. Thank you so much for all the gifts you gave me as well, they are all fantastic, I appreciate them so much.

Lyle, thanks for all the gifts you gave me and the great time you showed me. Thanks to Lyle I managed to go around the back after the game and meet Travis Johnson, Amobi Akoye and Eric Winston. He made me feel very welcome and like I was one of the guys. Also bringing me in some beers for the tailgate as he remembered my favourite sup.

Andy, Took some awesome pictures of the tailgate and the game, it’s his photos that get me through many a dark rainy English night as I can look onto them to see the nice weather, football, and fun you guys are having over there. Also got some perfect shots of my vacation, (photos on the sideline with Yankee, me knocking Peyton’s head off) that will live with me forever, thanks so much.

I also need to thank you all for all the gifts I received from you, they are all fantastic, I was especially moved when I was presented with the Jacoby Jones signed helmet that you guys got at the Breakfast with the team. That meant so much to me and Is now by far my most prized possession, taking pride of place on my desk at home right now. As I type I look at it in front of my laptop.

The guys I went down on the sideline with may also be pleased to know that I made it home safe with my Turf from Reliant Stadium, I was concerned when I realized after I had got on the plane that I put the grass in a clear plastic bag in my case, this may have looked suspiciously like another form of grass, that Ricky Williams may be familiar with.

All in all I need to thank so many more people for the excellent time that you guys showed me while in Houston, I can honestly say I have never met a better bunch of people than yourselves, I felt like one of you and will continue to feel like one of you forever thanks to this vacation. I think I have mentioned everyone and everything, I am sorry If I have forgotten to mention you It has been such an overwhelming few weeks, I am yet to take everything in fully.

All this is without mentioning the game, Reliant is a magical place and I loved every second of my time in the stadium, the game was amazing, even though we came out on the losing end getting to see Texans play, along with Manning and the Colts, and pushing them as far as we did with a beaten up team. It was amazing.

I thought that the opening introductions made my hairs stand on end, but when Jerome returned that opening Kickoff to the house, I was in absolute heaven, that feeling will live with me forever.

This is now the start of a yearly thing I can promise you. This time next year I will once again be back in Houston with you guys and the team I love.

It was a pleasure meeting you, and we are so glad you were able to come to Houston to meet all of us and to watch (what could be) the best damn team in the NLF... and NO, I don't mean the COLTS!!! (I know someone out there would think that after the last 2 games).

First, I need to make one quick correction here... Katie (Andy's wife) is the one who gave up her pass for your sideline experience. I can't take the credit for that, she was kind enough to do this for you and she deserves the kudos for that. I honestly had more fun watching the excitement on your face than watching the team warm-up on the field.

Second, Ted is right... not a good thing to use "smashed" and "Cornhole" in the same sentence, especially around this crowd... just a suggestion

Third, we look forward to having you back next year. Be advised, we don't know if we can beat your experience you had this trip, but we will see what different things we might be able to pull off next year!

Glad you and your "grass" made it home!

__________________
Texan Lee
Visit our web site @ http://www.TexansBullPen.com
Been there since the beginning, we will be there to the end!!!
Go Texans!!! Go Bull Pen!!!
Section 116 - Row D

Hey Sideline Very glad to see you had a wonderful time. That is what you need to do when you go on vacation. You need to schedule 2 weekends and 2 home games for next year, You'll get to see more of everything.
Just remember we will all need a place to stay when the Texans play in London/jk You hurry back and let us try to get you a place to stay so you save your money. Hurry back, who know you may need to fly back over to arizona before long.

Andy (Sideline) it was my pleasure to meet such a fine young man as yourself. We have been chatting for going on 6 yrs now, and your loyalty to our sometimes forgotten team, is definitely one of the reasons I wanted your trip to Reliant to be the very best. You have stood by this team through some very tough times, and I appreciate that more than anything. It's loyal fans like yourself, from all over the world, who will someday have the priviledge of jumping up and yelling, after our first SB win, that you were there from the beginning!! This team will rise up and conquer, have no doubt about that.

Hope you didn't have to many bruises after that TD run my Mathis. lol Not safe sitting by me when we make a TD. I have a tendency to get a little out of control! It was great fun sitting next to you at the game. Just watching your face and knowing you were in football heaven was an awesome experience for me. You are definitely one of my "boyz" now, and I will have to have a talk with all the above mentioned "boyz" who got you drunk! lol J/K Any young man who can travel over the big pond by himself to spend time with a crazy bunch of football fans deserves the right to live it up while he is here. Those above mentioned "boyz" will always take care of you.

Take care, study hard, and we'll definitely look forward to seeing you again next year. In the mean time, you know where to find us, thanks to Hookum Horns!!!!

Boy, I'd like to give a big round of applause to all who helped this young man have such an extraordinary time in our town. Your actions are surely a credit to Houston, and to Texans fans.
That's how it SHOULD be done. Good job all.
I have to admit that I'm jealous as hell, though. I've lived here all of my life, and never had a Houston Sports weekend like Sideline did.
I did have a similar sports weekend in Chicago a few years back, but does that even count?

Yes Jeff you are right there I do owe my whole 'sideline' experience to Katie, is she on here or does anybody have an email that I could contact her on to thank her? Im guessing Andy might?

Great photos there Greg, I have printed them off thanks for them, I don't even remeber that one being taken of my and Olivia, that must of been a harsh point in the game, when we were all still pretty worried.

Boy, I'd like to give a big round of applause to all who helped this young man have such an extraordinary time in our town. Your actions are surely a credit to Houston, and to Texans fans.
That's how it SHOULD be done. Good job all.

JMO, but it seems even more so now than during the Oilers ERA. I don't know if its just the tailgating or what, but I had a better time (and enjoyed the other fans more) at the one Texans game I've been to than at any time I was a season ticket holder with the Oilers.

I'm ridiculously jealous of you guys. I wish it had been like this back in the day.